NBA Playoff Predictions?

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussions' started by Jigamafloo, Apr 21, 2008.

Loading...
  1. Jigamafloo

    Jigamafloo New Member

    Any thoughts now that the playoffs have kicked off? I'm an unabashed Spurs fan and unreservedly predict a championship repeat, but I'm aware that other well meaning souls may have different (i.e. misguided :) ) opinions.

    As for my Spurs, yesterday's double OT win over the Suns was fantastic, and as an added bonus, evoked a predictable bout of verbal diarrhea/whining from Shaq. :rolleyes:

    As for the eventual victor, a lot of pundits are predicting the Lakers (led by narcissist in chief Kobe Bryant) in the West, and the new look Celtics (with the additions of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to help Paul Pierce) in the East. I've already expressed my prediction, but I'd love to hear thoughts from other fans.

    Dave
     
  2. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    I like the Celtics' chances this year; Kevin Garnett to me is the unquestioned MVP of the league and his play had elevated that of the entire team around him.

    I'd love to see a Celtics/Laker NBA Finals; that would be a network's wet dream.
     
  3. Jigamafloo

    Jigamafloo New Member

    Hard to argue with that, Bruce. The biggest complaint about San Antonio winning four championships in recent years isn't the level of play, it's the loss of advertising dollars because SA is considered a "small market". A Celtics-Lakers final would send ABC (who has rights to the finals) into an eye-popping fit of ecstacy, I'm sure.

    I'd have no heartburn at all with Garnett winning MVP - he's a class act all the way. His play, demeanor, contributions in the locker room, and coachability make his team much better. MY problem is with all the "Kobe deserves the MVP because his team improved" crap. If nothing else, they improved IN SPITE of him, not because of him.

    Between his off-season trade demands, disparging his current team mates and coach, and insulting the owner and strongest supporter he had, he needs a lesson in loyalty and humility, not rewarded because he got lucky and they decided to play anyway.

    Dave
     
  4. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    A double overtime game is exciting but jig should be worried that his team couldn't put the Suns away in regulation. Still, I'm looking at a NBA finals series between San Antonio and Boston. Boston wins (in 6), of course.

    I don't think they'll give the MVP to Garnett (although he may well deserve it.) Kevin will get the Defensive Player of the Year award and the MVP will go to a player like LeBron or Kobe (someone not in the finals).
     
  5. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

  6. Jigamafloo

    Jigamafloo New Member

    Sorry, Kiz.....been out of town for the last week. You're a veritable oracle - you nailed this one cold! I'd have loved to see Bruce Bowen in the running for Defensive Player of the Year, but Garnett deserved it.

    My Spurs got the same treatment today your Celtics got yesterday. Thought we were gonna sweep, but it seems like the Suns finally realized they had some talent, and won one to put it at 3-1 heading back to San Antonio. Can't complain, since I have tickets and hopefully get to watch the Spurs win round one in person.......

    What about Josh Smith and the dunking clinic he put on in Atlanta?!? I don't by any means expect the Hawks to come back from 3-1 (no team ever has), particularly against the Celtics, but it was a shocker to watch this one game rally.

    Anyway, congrats on the prescient pick for DP of the year, and I’m also looking at Celts – Spurs in the finals. Ought to be one heck of a series!

    Dave
     
  7. Jigamafloo

    Jigamafloo New Member

    And was I ever wrong! In my last post, I assumed that the Hawks would be 3-1 after tonight.......who would have thought they would actually tie it 2-2?!? Since the Hawks are perennial punching bags for the rest of the league (it’s been years since they actually made the playoffs, and they snuck in this year with a losing record), the Celtics may have been a bit over-confident. Any thoughts, either from Kizmet or other Boston fans?

    Dave
     
  8. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    The Hawks were bound to win one game, but two? Everyone around here was predicting a Celtics blowout. The line was nine points and the Celts were up by ten. They let it slip through their fingers. Maybe Boston hasn't been taking Altanta seriously enough.

    The Celtics were the worst team in the NBA last year (is that right? or did it just feel that way?). Now they've got the best record. It is the biggest one year turn around in NBA history. That turnaround will mean NOTHING if they get killed off in the first round. ARE YOU LISTENING GUYS?
     
  9. Jigamafloo

    Jigamafloo New Member

    Celtics finally woke up??

    Hey Kizmet, they pulled it off - WALLOPED the Hawks 110 - 85. As long as they play with the same intensity, it's a given the Celtics will progress. I was at the the Spurs - Suns game last night when they put Phoenix away, so I'm happy. Where things stand:

    Western Conference:

    Spurs (beat Suns 4-1) and Hornets (beat Mavericks 4-1) both progressed, begin second round on Saturday.

    Lakers swept Nuggets (4-0), waiting on results of Jazz and Rockets series (Jazz lead series 3 -2) to see who they play.

    Eastern Conference:

    Magic beat Raptors (4-1), waiting on results of Pistons and 76ers series (Pistons lead series 3-2) to see who they play.

    Celtics (3 wins) lead series over Hawks (2 wins). Cavaliers (3 wins) lead series over Wizards (2 wins). The winners of these two respective series play each other.

    Notable events:

    Dallas Mavericks fired coach Avery Johnson over playoff performance (two consecutive first round exits, coupled with player apathy). Pheonix Suns coach Make D'antoni also in hotseat due to annual thumpings by the Spurs, and failed experiment for Shaq to finally get past the Spurs (20 million per year, nuked salary cap for zero results).
     
  10. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    That was the Celtics team I've come to expect this year!! :D

    After the heart-breaker in the Super Bowl, a choke by Boston in this first round of the NBA playoffs would have been too much.

    Then again, we know a thing or two about sports heartbreak in Boston. :p
     
  11. Jigamafloo

    Jigamafloo New Member

    Well Bruce, my guess is that your boys will cruise past the Hawks and very likely face the Cavaliers. With the exception of LeBron, it should be a rout....the Celtics have too much talent, as long as they don't get flustered.

    In the meantime, the Pistons will be playing the Magic. As long as the Pistons can contain Dwight Howard, they should go through to the next round. Detroit is an elite team, when they feel like showing up and playing to form.

    So my question to you and Kizmet - as good as the Celtics can be, given their very limited playoff experience as individuals (and virtually none as a team), do you think they can take Detroit, with extensive playoff experience and a history of bringing their "A" game against the good teams in the post-season?

    Dave
     
  12. Jigamafloo

    Jigamafloo New Member

    Celtics 3 - Hawks 3........apocalypse eminent???

    Wow. As a simple post commentary to the LAST round of blathering I did about the Celtics level of ability - all I have to say is WHAT?!? The entire League's best performing team is TIED in the playoffs with the (L)Eastern conference 8th friggin' seed????

    As a Spurs fan, I'm not as wary of the Celtics as I was earlier in the season. Granted, the Hawks are playing absolutely out of their MINDS right now, and I give them due credit. But as limited as the Celtic's level of Playoff experience is, and the way the pressure ratchets up in a seven game series against the same team, the Celtics are starting to resemble the Mavericks in the way they lose their judgement/balance and fall apart in the post-season.

    We'll see as things progress, but I'm done making predictions....this season is just too weird.

    Dave
     
  13. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    The Cavaliers? Can anything good come out of Cleveland?
     
  14. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    Well, Ted, they won their series 4-2 and so they must be feeling pretty good. At the same time, they're watching Boston struggle against the Hawks. Even if the Celtics win (I still think they'll win) it's clear that the Cavs will look at Boston as a vulnerable team. If Cleveland can take Boston to a game 7 then Boston is vulnerable. Personally I'm shocked that after such a fantastic regular season, the Celtics are on the verge of being bounced out in the first round of the playoffs. My only hope is that game 7 is in Boston and the crowd will pull them through.
     
  15. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

  16. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    Gee, shows you how much attention I've been paying! :eek:
     
  17. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    Well, that was quite a show in Boston....other than Kevin Garnett I felt like I was watching a high school game, considering the embarrassing shooting performances by both the Celtics & Cavaliers.

    Don't get me wrong; I'm happy with the win, but someone other than KG is going to have to step up if the Celts want any chance of beating Cleveland.
     
  18. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    With 9 minutes left in the fourth quarter the Celtics are up by 22 points against the Cavaliers in Game #2. I know that things can turn around quickly in an NBA playoff game but I'm putting this game in the bag for the Celts. You know I need that beauty sleep. Nighty-night.
     
  19. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    The Celts didn't keep such a large lead, but still not a bad wakeup result, eh? :D
     
  20. Jigamafloo

    Jigamafloo New Member

    Whew - they pulled it out allright. I still wonder how the Celtics will perform against whoever comes out of the West, but it seems like they learned their lesson from the Hawks - they certainly have LaBron and the Cavaliers tied in knots right now.

    My Spurs seem to have finally remembered that they were the Champs tonight, and played like it. If they can play like this Sunday and even the series, I'm optimistic.
     

Share This Page